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Vivian Wesson

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Vivian Dunlap Wesson
Born
Vivian Dunlap

March 12, 1895
Texarkana, Texas
DiedJanuary 13, 1994
Santa Clara, California
NationalityUnited States
ABMAfrica
Spouse(s)Henry Wesson
ChildrenJames Wesson
Parent(s)James Dunlap and Julia Bryant
 Media

Vivian Dunlap (March 12, 1895 - January 13, 1994) was an American Bahá’í notable for pioneering to Africa, for which she was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh, and served on the continents Auxiliary Board.

She was born in Texas but split her early years between there and Chicago. She married World War One veteran Henry Wesson in 1919 after his service. Though it is unsaid how it came to be, she joined the religion before the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and soon found herself in the employ of Corinne True from whom she learned more deeply of the Faith and the transformative nature it had on white people and her own earnestness. She then embarked on service to the religion amidst raising her son James by speaking at some opportunities over the years and was elected to the Spiritual Assembly of Chicago some years. There were some ideas of pioneering in light of the plans but it wasn't until after the death of her husband in 1951, and the call of the Ten Year Crusade that she decided to guild herself with skills as a laboratory technician but that turned out to be unrelated to the needs of the land. She was paired with white northerner Mavis Nymon, some 20 years her junior, and together they made plans to go to what is today called Togo. They managed to arrive before the end of the 12th day of Riḍván, 1954, thanks to recognizing the accent of some indigenous people where they landed in Liberia. With the aid of various people and embassies they made it to Togo. Though expelled in a few months amidst tensions between Togo and France, one of the embassy's visas they needed to stay, they managed to raise a Spiritual Assembly in Lomé and be recognized as Knights of Bahá'u'lláh by Shoghi Effendi.

Unable to stay in Togo they remained in Liberia and established a literacy school which had its first graduating class in 1956. In 1957 Wesson traveled in America speaking of the needs of pioneers and the work to be done. When she returned the school was being served by the overworked Nymon who then returned to America where she finished her education and advanced her profession back in North Dakota. Meanwhile Wesson, an Auxiliary Board Member in Liberia, undertook trips to promote the religion as well as seeing a student of the school through to college to return and aide in the school. She was also elected to the regional National Spiritual Assembly of West Africa a number of times in the 1960s and was its chair at least once. After many years of service in her advanced age she moved to Sierra Leon which had more services and assistance. After another several years there she returned to live in the US where she retired to Palo Alto and undertook some college courses and was elected to her location's Residents’ Council in 1980. She died in 1994 and was remembered in Liberia and Togo with further school developments at least once of which had functions as recently as 2013.

Biography[edit]

Born and raised[edit]

Vivian Dunlap, later Wesson, was born March 12, 1895 in Texarkana, Texas, daughter of Baptist minister James Dunlap and Julia Bryant.[1][2][3] They lived for a time in Chicago where she went to junior high.[1] At age 15 in 1910 she was living on Eileen St. with kin Rich and Laura Harrison. Both of Dunlap's parents were from Mississippi.[4] Meanwhile her future husband Henry was living in Gatesville, Oklahoma, as the oldest son in the family of James and Willie D. Wesson who was a farmer.[5] The family moved back to Texas to help other family,[1] and there she attended HBCU Paul Quinn College,[1] before returning to Chicago as a stenographer and elementary school teacher.[1]

On June 5, 1917, future husband Henry registered for the draft for World War I. He was born Mar 13, 1895 in Texarkana, but on the Arkansas side, living in south Chicago working as a laborer in the Illinois Steel Company with his mother on South State Street, with no previous military service.[6] He served from July 25, 1917, to March 28, 1919, as a private,[7] in the distinguished 370th Infantry in France.[8] He was registered as severely wounded in December 1918.[9]

Married and Bahá'í[edit]

Vivian Dunlap married Henry Wesson September 1919 in Chicago.[10][1][2]

The story remains unplumbed, but Vivian joined the Faith in July 1921, one of the African Americans to do so before the Ascension of `Abdu'l-Bahá.[2][11]

She soon[12] became acquainted with and worked for Corinne True. In the few years leading up to this True was, of course, active in the Faith. In 1919 True had made a second Bahá'í pilgrimage and attended the Bahai Temple Unity convention in 1920, which formally approved a design for the House of Worship and the True home was plunged into sorrows following the Ascension of `Abdu'l-Bahá in November 1921. In early 1922 True was among fifteen Bahá'ís Shoghi Effendi invited from around the world to come to Haifa and consult with him about the future development of the Faith.[13] True herself had been born in Kentucky and her mother was of a slave-owning family while her father was a Presbyterian minister who convinced his wife to let the slaves go, while the family did side with the South during the Civil War.[14]

Vivian was ill much of the time she was employed as a maid to the True household.[1] Biographer of True Nathan Rutstein wrote:

"No other mature white person she had encountered treated her as Corinne did. In her presence, Vivian felt wholeheartedly accepted as a human being, as a child of God, with potential talents. And because of that Vivian felt free. She could be herself, and truly share what was in her heart. And there were times when Vivian didn't have to tell Corinne what was bothering her. She already knew."[12] "She knew that Corinne took an interest in her because she loved her. Vivian's husband felt the same way about Corinne's feelings toward him. In fact, he revealed to his wife that he considered Corinne as his mother. At first, Vivian was amazed that Corinne could be free of racial prejudice, considering her upbringing and some of the people she associated with. After all, racism seemed to permeate every inch of the prevailing society. But Vivian came to realize why Corinne was the way she was. It was because she was a 'real Bahá'í'. Vivian realized that Corinne was the type of person who embraced whole­heartedly whatever she believed in. If Bahá'u'lláh taught that all humans are members of the same family, then she would accept that without reservation. What Corinne had difficulty with, at times, was understanding why others had reservations, especially some Baha'is."[12] "during the two years Vivian lived with Corinne, and afterwards, there were experiences where racial barriers crumbled when the two of them appeared in places where no blacks had ever been before. And that included some elegant clubs. What Corinne did wasn't calculated. To her, bringing a friend along was a perfectly natural thing to do."[12]

Many years later Vivian said: “I think she kept me on just to teach me the Bahá’í way of life. I’m sure no maid ever had the care and privileges which were give me by the whole family. When I left them I was well and very well grounded in the Bahá’í Teachings."[1]

In a particular instance the Trues with the Wessons went to their summer home[13] in Fruitport, Michigan, where no blacks lived and were never seen any live in person.[12] Rutstein says: "One summer day, Vivian took little Patty for a walk to the village center. Along the way they encountered a cluster of children, who were peering at Vivian. One youngster approached and asked, 'Why are you so dirty? You should wash it off'. It wasn't something that Vivian hadn't experienced before; fortunately it wasn't a hostile outburst--just an innocent expression by a curious child. Vivian was about to respond when Patty--5 then--stepped forward and said, 'You see, God made people different colors and He made flowers different colors. He does this because He loves beauty.'"[12]

After leaving the employ of the Trues Wesson remarks that a study group was held in their home from 1926 to 1930,[2] and it is known she served on the Chicago Spiritual Assembly some years.[1] During this time son James Johar Wesson was born December 9, 1927.[15][1][2] Yet by the 27th Wesson was giving a talk entitled “Spiritual Unity” at Bahá'í Center over lunch time.[16] Despite the Great Depression in 1930 the family was renting a home on St. Lawrence Ave. for $75/mth while Henry was employed as a laborer in the Motor Coach Company as was his brother also living in the home and with a lodger.[17] In 1935 and 1940 the family were renting a home on Laffayette Ave. for $30/mth, and Henry was employed as a laborer at same company earning about $1300/yr.[18] In 1936 she filled out the Bahá'í Historical Record Survey.[2] In 1940 Wesson made the newspapers with a talk on “The Baha’i World Community” in the evening in Kenosha.[19] This was followed by a talk on “Spiritual Democracy" in January 1941 in Racine.[20] Vivian also was in contact with Louis Gregory and then Mary Maxwell, (later Ruhiyyih Khanum) as a young girl.[21]

Pioneering… where[edit]

There is a hint that the Wessons planned to pioneer to Bahia, Brazil in 1942,[22] but they remained and Wesson gave a talk “Developing Spiritual Capacities” at the Chicago Bahá'í Center September 1943 over the lunch hour,[23] and several years later in 1949 on “Perfection is endless” again at the Center.[24]

Henry died August 8, 1951,[25] while they were living on Prairie Ave.[7] Wesson was secretary of the Temple Guiding committee and served on the committee for Temple Public Meetings.[26] She also gave a talk “One God, One Mankind, One Religion” at Center Sunday afternoon in 1954.[27]

Africa[edit]

However the Ten Year Crusade, and the death of her husband in 1951, she said she couldn’t bear to stay in their home any longer, set her sights on Africa.[1] Before she left, she had to see Corinne True. "In those days, True's health was fragile. She was 93, and wasn't able to meet as many people as she had been accustomed to do. But when she heard that Vivian wanted to see her, she insisted on their meeting. It was like a mother-daughter reunion. Of course, Corinne was thrilled about Vivian's decision to pioneer. The advice she gave, Vivian took to heart: 'Rely on Baha'u'llah. Study the teachings hard. Know your subject when you speak. But don't lecture to people and tell them what they should be. Give them love. And be simple."[12] She took a 12 month course on medical laboratory technician, at the age 59, and partnered with Mavis Nymon of Fargo, North Dakota who was herself just 23 years old. “We had all the things that . . . that didn’t make sense for the two people being together.”[11] Mavis C. Nymon was born September 1921 in Canton New York and grew up in Fargo, North Dakota, graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in 1943 in Dietetics, Home Economics Education and Chemistry.[28] She had earned a Master's Degree in Nutrition and Biochemistry at Cornell University worked with Dr. James Sumner, 1946 Nobel Lauret in Chemistry. Nymon was teaching at the University of Minnesota from 1946 until pioneering became “the great adventure of my life”.[28] However much the world said it didn't make sense for these two to be together, with the call of the Faith before them they left from Boston and set of on an confirmational adventure: “This beginning experience has set the pattern of my life as a pioneer and as a believer" Wesson said.[1]

They arrived in Monrovia, Liberia, the evening of April 27 just in time for the Feast of Jamal with only visas for Liberia and having to apply to go further - they had tried earlier for Ghana and Togo.[1] With local assistance of Bahá'ís and the captain of a ship with the Farrel Lines Office they were offered 10-day visas between American and French Embassies and then the British Embassy for traveling through the Gold Coast. They set off April 29. Various accounts of their arrival in Togo have been published - the most reliable came from the US African Teaching Committee report of August 15, 1954: "…arriving in Ghana May 1, 5 days ahead of schedule, stayed up all night and went ashore the morning of May 2nd amidst a 10-oar row boat and after 2 hours in customs were sent on their way. They had arrived Sunday with no travel plans figured out after hoping to arrive in Togo during Riḍván's 12th day."[29] While praying for assistance people walking by spoke words that reminded Vivian of her grandmother's tone of voice and accent. She engaged the people there in conversation who offered hospitality and aid with logistics. They arrived as far as Accra mid-Sunday afternoon and Lomé, Togo, in the evening and slept in the home late that night counted as May 2nd, still during Riḍván.[30] Among their guides one joined the Faith in June. They had stayed four months in Lomé, Togo and achieved nine adults by September 1954 in order to form a spiritual assembly.[31] They did not receive final permission to remain in Togo and were expelled due to a conflict Togo had with France,[11] leaving the locals sad.[31] Nevertheless they were named Knights for Togo though they returned to Liberia.[1]

Both then worked in Bomi Hills near Tubmanburg some 40 miles from Monrovia and were eventually offered land to set up what was then called the Bahá’í Literacy School.[1] It started service in 1955.[32]In 1956 the Bomi Hills Literacy School graduated the first class of 60 students with 7 honored as well as recognition of those who tried and failed to graduate.[33] Math, reading and Writings taught aiming for English at 6th grade. Invitations were sent to mining officials and local chiefs to come to the ceremony. Wesson, now an Auxiliary Board Member toured Gold Coast (Ghana,) Togoland, and British Cameroons, over 2000 miles, by car.[31] In Lomé she showed pictures of the wider community of Baha’is and the future.[31] A picture of Wesson in Accra in shows her in 1956.[34] Wesson made a brief return to the US speaking of pioneering needs in the Mid-West area,[35] and back and forth between Provo, Utah and New York.[36] That summer she also gave a talk at Washington Park YMCA series in Chciago started in July 1957 with students from Liberia taking part.[37] Nymon stayed with the school. Wesson felt Nymon was overworked doing so many things for the school such that by early 1958 around late spring Nymon had to stop and return home, though then Wesson had to do both sets of duties.[1] After Nymon left Wesson sponsored a student through school and some college and he returned and helped her with the school.[11] When Nymon returned to America she continued her education and profession,[11] earning another Master Degree in Public Health Education and then a PhD in Nutrition and Public Health (1963) from the University of Minnesota[28] and served on Local Spiritual Assembly of Fargo. Meanwhile Wesson was appointed to the Regional Teaching Committee and then late in the year did a teaching trip through Guinea and Sierra Leone. Bahá'í organization in Liberia was limited because the men worked long hours in mines though the community of 16 people was of some size. The time was physically challenging if rewarding but there was not enough hands for the work. After 5 years the school closed. She was encouraged to relent and serve in the Cameroons with Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga in 1961.[1] That was the year Corinne True died.[38] She decided to remain in Liberia and in 1963 returned to America for social security benefits at age 68 in March,[1] and told stories of the landing in 1954 - like the boat that took them ashore in Ghana was a dugout canoe.[39] That year she was also listed in the updated Knights of Bahá’u’lláh list.[40] That year she lived with Susan and Shidan Kouchekzadeh who had married in 1963.[21]

Interviewed in 1989 by Gwendolyn Etter-Lewis Wesson said: “What to do? What to do when God takes hold of you? What can you do? You just try to be a vessel that will hold whatever it is that God has given you and let as much of it spill out as God will allow to spill. So that’s all I did. And I was the most amazed person in the whole world that it turned out as well as it did ‘cause so many things went turned out wrong, but this turned out right.”[11]

In 1965 Wesson and son James were elected to the regional National Spiritual Assembly of West Africa; Vivian was elected Chair and their picture published in Baha'i News.[41] She was again elected in 1968.[42] In 1970 at age 77 she moved to Sierra Leone[43] where there were more conveniences and assistance in life and living.[1] She was pictured there in Freetown in 1971.[44] A replacement building for the new school in the Bomi Hills was named after Wesson in 1972.[45] She is pictured visiting there with Liberians in 1973.[46]

In 1974 Wesson made a return trip to America and spoke at Louis Gregory Bahá'í Institute in South Carolina.[47]

Relatively little is published about her later years in Africa.

Return to America and death[edit]

After 23 years in Africa, and seven in Sierra Leone, she returned to the US in a wheel chair.[1] She moved to Lytton Gardens senior community in Palo Alto, California, where she was for another 13 years during which she was elected president of the Residents’ Council in 1980 and undertook a lifestyle of prayer, walks, good diet and classes at Foothill College.[1]

Her son James died January 4, 1982, in Chicago.[48]

Wesson died January 13, 1994, in Santa Clara.[3][1] The Universal House of Justice telegrammed: “Deplore news passing dearly loved greatly admired knight Bahá’u’lláh Vivian Wesson. Her historic teaching and pioneering services particularly in Togo and Liberia have left gleaming example unwavering devotion Cause God. Fervently praying holy shrines progress her illumined soul Abhá realm.”[1] Her gravesite is known.[49]

Posthumous[edit]

The Vivian Wesson Institute opened in Togo November 1994.[50] An article remembering her service was also published in The American Bahá'í[51] The Vivian Wesson Institute had staff coordinators and teachers visit area assemblies that had sent students to the school.[52] Wesson was again remembered in 2004 during the 50th year anniversary of the Faith in Togo.[53] Institute was still running at least as of 2013.[54]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 Deborah Shaffer; Roger Dahl; Gwendolyn Etter-Lewis (2010). "Vivian Dunlop Wesson, Knight of Bahá'u'lláh, 1895-1994". In Paul Vreeland (ed.). In Memoriam 1992-1997. Baha'i World. Haifa, Israel: Baha'i Worlds Center. pp. 108–113. ISBN 9780877433576.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Email from Edward Sevcik, Archivist U.S. National Bahá’í Archives, 1233 Central Street, Evanston, Ill. 60201 Email: archives@usbnc.org with subject line "Re: a review of the African-American Bahá'ís by the Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá", to Steven Kolins, dated March 2, 2020, cc'ed to Dr. Christopher Buck.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Vivian D Wesson California Death Index, 1940-1997". FamilySearch.org. 13 Jan 1994. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.(registration required)
  4. ↑ "Vivian Dunlap United States Census". FamilySearch.org. 1910. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.(registration required)
  5. ↑ "Henry Wesson United States Census". FamilySearch.org. 1910. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.(registration required)
  6. ↑ "Henry Wesson United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918". FamilySearch.org. June 5, 1917. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.(registration required)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Henry Wesson United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940". FamilySearch.org. 28 Mar 1919. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.(registration required)
  8. ↑ "Henry Wesson United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940". FamilySearch.org. 28 Mar 1919. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.(registration required)
  9. ↑ "Honor Roll late list". Herald and Review. Decatur, Illinois. 17 Dec 1918. p. 5. Retrieved Apr 6, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Miss Vivian Dunlap Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1920". FamilySearch.org. 28 Mar 1919. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.(registration required)
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 Gwendolyn Etter-Lewis (2006). "Unrestrained as the Wind: African-American Women answer the call". In Gwendolyn Etter-Lewis; Richard Thomas (eds.). Lights of the Spirit: Historical Portraits of Black Bahá'ís in North America, 1898-2004. Baha'i Publishing Trust. pp. 131–4, p306. ISBN 978-1-931847-26-1.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 Corrine True - Faithful Handmaid of 'Abdu'l-Baha by Nathan Rutstein with the assistance of Edna M. True, George Ronald, Oxford, UK, 1987, pp164-5
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Sue Chehenegar (July 8, 2017). "Corinne Knight True". BahaiChronicles.org. Retrieved Apr 8, 2020.
  14. ↑ Robert Sockett (Jun 14, 2013). "The Trials of Corinne Knight True". BahaiTeachings.org. Retrieved Apr 8, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Vivian Dunlap mentioned in the record of James Johar Wesson". FamilySearch.org. 10 Feb 1944. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.(registration required)
  16. ↑ "Baha'i House of Worship". Chicago Daily News. Chicago, IL. Dec 23, 1939. p. 8. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.(subscription required)
  17. ↑ "Vivian Wesson United States Census,". FamilySearch.org. 1930. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.(registration required)
  18. ↑ "Vivian Wesson United States Census". FamilySearch.org. 1940. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.(registration required)
  19. ↑ "Baha'i Hall". Kenosha News. Kenosha, Wisconsin. 23 Mar 1940. p. 13. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.(registration required)
  20. ↑ "Baha'i guest names topic". The Journal Times. Racine, Wisconsin. 25 Jan 1941. p. 6. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Jenny (4 May 2012). "Susan Kouchek-zadeh". bahaihistoryuk.wordpress.com. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
  22. ↑ "This Crucial Year - progress report no. 3 issued by the National Spiritual Assembly for the period Sept 1 - Oct 31, 1942; 20, Urgent efforts…". Baha'i News. No. 157. Nov 1942. p. 2. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Baha'i House of Worship". Chicago Daily News. Chicago, IL. Sep 25, 1943. p. 8. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.(subscription required)
  24. ↑ "Vivian Wesson…". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. 5 Mar 1949. p. 15. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
  25. ↑ * "In memoriam". Baha'i News. Nov 1951. p. 11. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
    • Candace Hill (31 May 2015). "Henry Wesson". Findagrave.com. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
  26. ↑ Baha’i Directory - United States 1953-1954; Regional Teaching Committees; Temple; Temple Public Meetings (and) Temple Guiding, p4
  27. ↑ * "Chicago Baha'i Center". Chicago Daily News. Chicago, IL. Mar 13, 1954. p. 8. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.(subscription required)
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 "Obituary Mavis C. Nymon September 15, 1921 - March 3, 2013". hansonrunsvold.com. 2013. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
  29. ↑ "National news; United States Africa Teaching Committee - goals for this year". Baha'i News. Sep 1954. p. 10–11. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
  30. ↑ * "World crusade; Seventh pioneer report". Baha'i News. June 1954. p. 8. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 Local Spiritual Assembly of Lomé (Feb 1956). "Africa - Pioneer letters reflect quickening of spiritual strength; Lomé, French Togoland". Baha'i News. p. 6–7. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
  32. ↑ The Baha’i Faith in Africa, by Anthony A. Lee, in Studies of Religion in Africa v29 eds Benjamin Soares and Frans Wijsen, Brill, 2011, ISSN 0169-9814 ISBN 9789004206847, p86
  33. ↑ "Africa - Bomi Hills Literacy graduates first class". Baha'i News. Jan 1956. p. 3. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
  34. ↑ Ali Nakhjavani (Apr 1992). "The Ten Year Crusade and the Knights of Bahá'u'lláh". Baha'i World. An International Record. Vol. 20. p. 104.
  35. ↑ "Intercontinental committees; Africa - Pioneers visit US, tell teaching needs". Baha'i News. Sep 1957. p. 4. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
  36. ↑ "Educator from West Africa visits Provo". The Daily Herald. Provo, Utah. 30 Oct 1957. p. 5. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
  37. ↑ "Chicago Assembly's weekly meetings at YMCA praised by religious work committee". Baha'i News. Sep 1958. p. 10. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
  38. ↑ "Mrs. Corinne True, 'mother of Baha'i Temple', dies at 99". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. 4 Apr 1961. p. 33. Retrieved Apr 6, 2020.
  39. ↑ "Togo". Baha'i World 2004-5. An International Record. Haifa, Israel: World Centre Publications. 2006. pp. 58–60. ISBN 0853989702.
  40. ↑ "Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; French Togoland". Baha'i World. An International Record. Vol. 13. 1970. p. 451.
  41. ↑ "Delegates from Mali, Gambia…". Baha'i News. Oct 1965. p. 4. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
  42. ↑ "West Africa teaching surges forward". Baha'i News. Sep 1968. p. 10–11. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
  43. ↑ "Pioneers settled in United States goal countries from Riḍván 1969, scheduled through June 10, 1970". Baha'i News. June 1970. p. 6. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
  44. ↑ Violet Nakhjavani (Sep 1971). "The Great Safari of Hand of the Cause Rúhíyyih Khánum, part three". Baha'i News. p. 19. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
  45. ↑ "West African Summer School, Bomi Hills, Liberia". Baha'i News. Apr 1972. p. 10. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
  46. ↑ "West Africa Summer School, Bomi Hills, Liberia". Baha'i News. Apr 1973. p. 21. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
  47. ↑ Hand in Hand - Identity, and community development among South Carolina’s Baha’is, 1973-1979, by Louis Venters, in Baha’i Faith and African American History, ed Loni Bramson, p159
  48. ↑ "James Johar Wesson Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1878-1994". FamilySearch.org. 4 Jan 1982. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.(registration required)
  49. ↑ Candace Hill; Robin W (9 Oct 2014). "Vivian D Dunlap Wesson". Findagrave.com. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
  50. ↑ "The year in review; Baha'i academics". Baha'i World. An International Record. Vol. 23. 1996. p. 95. ISBN 0853989907.
  51. ↑ Vivian Wesson, Knight of Baha’u’llah, dies at 98, The American Baha’i, Mar 2, 1994, v25n3, p?
  52. ↑ "Year in Review; Institutes and other training activities". Baha'i World. An International Record. Vol. 25. 1998. p. 107. ISBN 0853989869.
  53. ↑ "Togo Baha'is celebrate jubilee". Bahá'í World News Service. Lome, Togo. August 22, 2004. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
  54. ↑ "Nighaï Djagré KOTOBE". Linkedin.com. 2014. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
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